Effects of dual task on functional mobility in individuals with Down syndrome: a case–control study

Abstract Background Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic cause of intellectual and developmental disabilities and is often associated with mobility limitations. Dual-task activities, whether traditional (e.g., naming animals) or ecological (e.g., talking or typing on a mobile phone), require complex motor-sensory integration and can pose additional challenges to mobility. For individuals with DS, performing simultaneous tasks may exacerbate difficulties in functional mobility. Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the impact of traditional and mobile phone-related dual tasks on the functional mobility of individuals with DS. Methods A case–control study was conducted involving nine individuals with Down syndrome (DS) and nine age- and sex-matched individuals without DS, forming the control group (CG). Functional mobility was assessed using the timed up and go (TUG) test under single-task conditions and four dual-task conditions: cognitive, motor, talking, and typing on a mobile phone. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to compare group outcome measures that included the time to complete the TUG test and the accuracy of cognitive and typing tasks. The Interference Index was calculated for each dual-task condition and compared between groups using the paired t-test . Within-group analyses were also performed to assess the effect of each dual-task condition. Results Individuals with DS showed worse performance than the CG across all TUG conditions. The dual-task index revealed that individuals with DS were more adversely affected by dual-task demands compared to the CG. Cognitive dual tasks had the most significant negative impact, followed by typing on a mobile phone. Conclusion Traditional cognitive dual tasks and ecological tasks, such as talking and typing on a cell phone, had a greater impact on individuals with DS than on the CG. Considering the growing prevalence of multitasking in daily life, incorporating dual-task activities into rehabilitation programs may enhance functional mobility in this population. Further research is needed to explore practical applications of these findings.